Borell Arraignment Set for Monday, Aug. 1
Description:
As volunteers continue to care for 28 horses apparently abandoned at a Central Kentucky farm, one of two individuals charged with animal cruelty in connection with the incident is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday, Aug. 1.
Charles Borell, of Syracuse, N.Y., is scheduled to appear in Mercer County District Court to be arraigned on 43 counts of second degree animal cruelty. Authorities charged Borell, and his daughter, trainer Maria Borell, after determining they were responsible for the 43 horses that were apparently abandoned in early June on a 121-acre farm about eight miles from Harrodsburg, Ky.
Officials took possession of the farm, which is for sale, after it was determined the horses had been abandoned and were in various states of health, including three deemed by veterinarians to be emaciated.
Charles Borell was taken into custody when he showed up at the farm and was later released. Maria Borell has not been taken into custody on the charges, which are misdemeanors under Kentucky law.
Rusty Ford, of the state veterinarian’s office within the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, said volunteers caring for the horses continue to be assisted by Thoroughbred Charities of America and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Ford said efforts by the Mercer County attorney’s office to identify and locate owners of the horses continues and the ag department has posted photos of all 43 horses on its abandoned animals website in an effort to find anyone who has an ownership claim to any of the animals.